EQUIPMENT & MAINTENANCE
proper fill marker level. An engine that
is hot will exhibit what is called thermal
expansion. If the coolant level is low when
the engine is hot, this is an indication that
coolant must be added to the reservoir.
Serious damage may occur if cold coolant
or water is added directly into the radiator
when the engine is hot or overheated. A
50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water
should be used for protection down to -34*F
and boiling protection up to 265*F. A 60/40
concentration may be used in climates below
-34*F. Engine coolant should be flushed and
filled every 100,000 miles. If unfamiliar with
the flush and fill procedure allow a service
center to perform this task.
Engine air filters need to be changed
every 5,000 miles or every 5 months. When
inspecting air filters for clarity, hold the air
filter up to direct sunlight and look to see
if any light passes through the pleats. If
sunlight does not pass through the pleats the
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air filter must be replaced or cleaned. Some
air filters cannot be cleaned and must be
discarded.
OEM spark plugs and spark plug wires
should be replaced every 100,000 miles. Some
aftermarket spark plugs need to be inspected,
cleaned, re-gapped or replaced after 30,000
– 50,000. Some OEM and Platinum spark
plugs cannot be re-gapped and should be
replaced if electrode gap is out of spec and
found to be faulty.
The PCV (positive crankcase ventilation)
valve is an emission control devise that
is often overlooked and ignored. What
is positive crankcase ventilation? Positive
crankcase ventilation is the removal of gases
inside the crankcase. The gases inside the
crankcase are formed from blow-by during
the power stroke inside the combustion
chamber To better understand the PCV
system, think of the intake on an engine as
a vacuum source. Gases are pulled from the